Exhausts to be raised for 2012

14 July 2011 – Following several meetings of the Technical Working Group (TWG) at Silverstone last weekend, teams have agreed to raise the overall position of exhausts in their cars from the start of next season. This will help to prevent situations such as the engine mapping row which overshadowed the build-up to the British Grand Prix.

This year teams have been using advanced engine mapping (tuning) to allow their exhausts to flow the same levels of hot gases over their diffusers – to create extra downforce - while off the accelerator as when full throttle is being applied.

By repositioning the exhausts for next year, such deliberate techniques will be almost impossible to achieve.

“The teams have already agreed to strict constraints on exhaust tailpipe position which will result in them exiting the bodywork much higher up and no longer in the vicinity of the diffuser,” explains Charlie Whiting, Technical Delegate for F1 governing body the FIA.

“Therefore, any aerodynamic benefit from exhaust gas flow over bodywork will be kept to an absolute minimum.

“Engine mapping will remain free - within the existing constraints of the FIA SECU [Standard Electronic Control Unit] - as, with the exhaust tailpipes in this new position, it is felt that any aerodynamic benefit will now be incidental to their primary purpose.”

Social Media

Check out our community:

About us

GPUpdate.net, the daily motorsport news website which is celebrating over a decade of the latest in Formula 1, publicly dates back to 1998.
Founded as F1Racing.net, the online magazine is part of JHED Media BV, a registered company operating out of The Netherlands.